STEMI Treatment Optimization by Ischemic Postconditioning and IVUS Guidance

IPOST is repeated for 4 cycles (60 sec obstruction followed by 60 sec perfusion each) and followed by stent implantation with a 1.1/1.0 ratio of stent diameter/reference vessel diameter and a stent length sufficient to cover the entire lesion from healthy to healthy area of the vessel. During the first cycle of re-occlusion of full vessel occlusion is secured by a small injection of contrast.

IVUS catheters are to be advanced at least 20 mm distal to the culprit lesion. After administration of intracoronary nitroglycerine, an IVUS-pullback is to be performed at 0.5mm/second using a commercially available imaging system. Stent size and landing zones are decided based on the IVUS.